As it happened: WA news on Tuesday, October 8

And with that, we’re leaving you, dear reader. Well, at least for the night. But check back in again tomorrow morning as we bring you all the day’s news.

It was certainly a day for sports news today, wasn’t it? Mostly good – well, unless you’re a diehard rugby league fan in the west, that is.

Yep, the Western Bears bid is dead in the water, with a consortium’s “low-ball” proposal not impressing the bosses at the NRL.

The state government wants to keep working with the league to develop a potential ownership model, so we’ll see how that pans out.

However, in more positive sporting news, Woosha’s back!

That’s right, former premiership player – and coach – John Worsfold is returning to the Eagles’ nest to take up the role as West Coast’s head of football.

Worsfold was last involved at the Eagles back in 2013 as senior coach but recently worked at the ASX-listed Emeco Group as a HR manager. He starts his new gig on November 4 before pre-season training begins.

In more serious news, the state’s corruption watchdog has levelled misconduct allegations at the WA ombudsman over taxpayer-funded travel.

In a report handed down on Tuesday morning, the Corruption and Crime Commission ruled the evidence showed Chris Field acted in what they claimed was arrogant disregard of his functions under the Parliamentary Commissioners Act.

Field failed to seek approval for his extensive travel, despite government policy requiring all overseas travel to be approved by a minister.

Field released a statement later in the day, confirming he intended to resign, however he demanded a review of the watchdog’s report over what he believed was a “denial of proper procedural fairness in the final stages of the commission process”.

Thanks again for tuning in today, have a good evening and we’ll see you again in the morning.

And in an update on an evolving story this afternoon, Deputy Premier Rita Saffioti has vowed to work with the NRL to bring the competition to Perth following news it had severed ties with the consortium behind the Western Bears bid over a “low-ball” proposal.

On Tuesday, it was revealed NRL officials were fuming over what they claimed was a bid to “low-ball” the NRL in the Western Bears recent business proposal to join the competition from 2027.

Instead, the league indicated it intended to work directly with the WA government to develop a potential ownership model.

At a press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Saffioti said the state government was keen to continue to work with the NRL to expand the competition to WA, particularly given support for the game in the state.

“I know the Premier [Roger Cook] is very keen to make sure that WA has a team in that NRL,” she said.

“For the NRL to be a truly national competition, it needs a WA team. The finances perhaps weren’t enough.

“We’ve seen incredible support for the game in WA, with State of Origin attendances and other key games being a sell out, and we’ll continue to work directly with the NRL to see what can be done.”

Rugby league fans, what say you?

What’s that? Yes, even more sports news! This time from down in the South West, where WA’s biggest network of mountain bike trails has officially opened.

The completion of 47 kilometres of tracks in the Wellington National Park near Collie was the final stage of the Wambenger Trails network, which links Wellington Dam, Honeymoon Pool, Mount Lennard and the Collie River Valley.

Mountain biking is a growing tourism draw in Collie.Credit: Peter Braig

New to mountain biking? Fear not, the trails cater to beginners as well as experienced and competition riders.

A new bike hire outlet has also opened in Wellington National Park to support the trails.

Collie-Preston MLA Jodie Hanns said there was a mountain bike trail to suit everyone.

“In just a few weeks, Collie will host the AusCycling Mountain Bike National and Oceania Enduro Championships over four days, attracting hundreds of local, national and international riders to town,” she said.

Lots of sports news around today, the latest being the NRL telling the WA government it will not consider working with the consortium behind the Western Bears bid, in a major hurdle to the game’s expansion plans.

Sources talking under the condition of anonymity due to the confidential nature of discussions told this masthead NRL officials were fuming over what they perceived to be an attempt by the consortium to “low-ball” the NRL in its recently submitted business proposal.

The NRL now wants to work directly with the WA government to formulate a potential ownership model that doesn’t involve the Western Bears consortium.

The NRL has since told the Western Australian government that the bid, run by Cash Converters deputy chairman Peter Cumins, is now out of the running for one of three potential new licenses head office is considering in its push towards a 20-team competition.

“I’ve said from day one that for expansion to happen, a business case has to be prosecuted,” ARLC chairman Peter V’landys said.

“If we don’t believe the business case stacks up, how can we take it to our members when we’re not convinced ourselves?

“We are presently dealing with the West Australian government, who have been excellent throughout the whole process.”

Cumins has not responded to attempts to contact him for comment. The NRL declined to comment.

You can read more at the related article.

And if you want even more sports news with a local flavour, West Australian Mitch Wishnowsky, the regular punter for the San Francisco 49ers, became the first Australian to kick a field goal in the NFL after getting the call-up to replace injured place kicker Jake Moody at the weekend.

In more breaking news, embattled WA Ombudsman Chris Field has confirmed his intention to resign, while demanding a review of a damning corruption watchdog report accusing him of engaging in serious misconduct and creating a “sham” process to greenlight taxpayer-funded travel.

In a report handed down on Tuesday, the state’s Corruption and Crime Commission ruled the evidence showed Field acted in what it claimed was arrogant disregard of his functions under the law and failed to seek approval for international travel between 2022 and 2023 in his dual role as head of the International Ombudsman Institute.

Several hours after the report was handed down (see our 10.10am post), Field, who’s held the role for 17 years, released a statement:

I intend to request a review by the parliamentary inspector … to assess the effectiveness and appropriateness of the Commission’s procedures that led to this final report. This is because I believe there was a denial of proper procedural fairness in the final stages of the Commission process ...

There has been no finding of serious misconduct by the Commission in regard to my travel, which was the essential and original basis for the conduct of the public examinations.

The final report however, does contain two remaining and ultimate findings against me, in circumstances where I was not able to make submissions to the Commission regarding the legal basis for one of these findings before the final report was tabled ...

I intend to seek consideration by the parliamentary inspector regarding whether the final stage of the process afforded me proper procedural fairness and whether the two adverse findings based on that process are fair and sustainable.

But notwithstanding this intention, it is with deep regret that the publication of the final report in this form means I can no longer serve in the Office of Ombudsman of Western Australia as I have for the last 17 years. I intend to submit my resignation to the state governor later today.

“I will also be unable to make further comment on the substance of the Final Report until I have had the opportunity to report my concerns about the appropriateness of the final stages of the Commission process and seek the performance of the Parliamentary Inspector of his review functions.”

Read more in the related article.

The West Coast Eagles have announced former premiership player and coach John Worsfold will return to the club.

Worsfold will assume the full-time role as head of football and work across all the club’s programs and teams, his responsibilities including coaching structure and development, performance and culture, the club announced.

The former coach has spent the past nearly four years as a HR manager at the ASX-listed Emeco Group.

Worsfold earlier this year. Credit: AFL Photos via Getty Images

“We are excited to see John rejoin the club in a role which we believe will be significant across our football programs,” West Coast chief executive Don Pyke said.

“His coaching and football experience will provide vital assistance, leadership and support.

“We have a fresh and exciting group of leaders within our football programs and the opportunity to add someone with John’s experience is significant.”

Worsfold was last involved at the Eagles back in 2013 as senior coach.

“I am excited to be back ... as the club strives to progress into the next era,” Worsfold said.

“I have been fortunate to learn a lot in my time and role at Emeco Group that has added to my AFL leadership experience.”

Worsfold will work with existing managers Gavin Bell (AFL), Michelle Cowan (AFLW) and Steve Trewhella (WAFL).

He starts on November 4 before pre-season training commences.

The first 80 of a total 640 battery units are now in place at what will be one of the state’s biggest batteries in Collie.

Synergy’s $1.6 billion Collie battery energy system will provide 500 megawatts of power with 2000 megawatt hours of storage when connected to the grid in 2025.

In context, the battery system could power 785,000 average homes for four hours, making it one of Australia’s biggest battery systems.

Construction is creating around 500 jobs in the town.

The battery will join Synergy’s existing battery systems in Kwinana, soaking up excess solar and wind energy during the day to provide system stability and support continued renewables uptake in the grid.

Speaking in the town on the visit mentioned in our 11.13am post, Premier Roger Cook said this big battery kept Collie at the heart of our energy system, supporting local jobs and ensuring a strong future for the town.

Energy Minister Reece Whitby said large-scale storage was important in our state because it supported household investment in rooftop solar and the transition away from coal.

Warning: This story carries the name of a deceased Indigenous person.

The family of an Indigenous teenager who fatally self-harmed in youth detention wants an inquest to refocus on their son’s death after a bid to remove the coroner failed.

Cleveland Dodd was found unresponsive inside a cell in the youth wing of a high-security adult prison in the early hours of October 12, 2023. The 16-year-old was taken to hospital in critical condition and died a week later, causing outrage and grief in the community.

The inquest had sat for about a month until WA’s Deputy Corrective Services Commissioner Christine Ginbey last week attempted to have the coroner removed from the case, alleging apprehended bias against Corrective Services.

Parents Dodd and Gentle. Credit: AAP

The bid failed and on Tuesday, Cleveland’s mother, Nadene Dodd, and father, Wayne Gentle, called for accountability over their son’s death at a press conference with social justice advocates.

“They want a refocus on their child. They want a refocus on the people that were responsible for their child,” youth detention expert Gerry Georgatos told reporters.

Mother Nadene Dodd said the process had compounded her family’s suffering and pain.

“What about the people that got all the answers and know everything [that happened] in Unit 18?” the quietly spoken woman said.

Father Wayne Gentle said the justice department needed to be held accountable.

“I feel lost in this world without my son,” he said. “Because he was my beautiful boy, my beautiful boy. They should have done better.

“That’s not a place for kids, in a man’s prison.”

The inquest continues.

AAP

If you or someone you know needs support contact Lifeline on 13 11 14 or 13YARN (13 92 76). In the event of an emergency dial 000.

West Coast have added Richmond’s unrestricted free agent Jack Graham to their list today. The 26-year-old was a dual premiership player at the Tigers and a hero of their 2019 flag, which he missed due to a shoulder injury in the preliminary final.

Jack Graham has joined West Coast.Credit: AFL Photos

The AFL has announced the Tigers will get an end-of-second-round pick as compensation – that’s currently pick 42.

Graham was one of the Tigers’ best selections, with the club using pick 53 at the 2016 national draft to land him from South Australia. He will provide the Eagles with a defensive midfielder alongside emerging star Harley Reid.

He also reunites with his former midfield coach Andrew McQualter, who is now the Eagles coach (more about McQualter’s plans in our 8.55am post).

Environmental activists have handed over thousands of submissions to the state’s environment watchdog against US-run firm Black Mountain Energy’s proposal to drill and frack 20 exploratory gas wells in the Kimberley.

They took the action at the Environmental Protection Authority’s Joondalup offices yesterday as public comments closed, repeating calls for the government to ban fracking in the Kimberley.

The protest at the EPA. Credit: Martin Pritchard

The wells about 120 kilometres south-east of Derby would probe up to 5 kilometres below ground to determine whether gas could be economically produced by fracturing the rock with high-pressure water.

Gas from the Canning Basin was exempted from a WA government ban on exporting onshore gas in 2021. If Black Mountain’s drilling is successful and it moves to commercial production, the most likely avenue to international markets is Woodside’s North West Shelf gas plant near Karratha, almost 1000 kilometres away.

To justify the expense of such a pipeline Black Mountain would likely have to drill many hundreds of wells, if not thousands.

A recent submission for federal environmental approval for Black Mountain’s plans attracted almost 3000 public comments and Environs Kimberley wrote to federal Environment Minister Tanya Plibersek telling her the Commonwealth should not accept the referral because it was not for the full project and only concerned six of the proposed 20 wells.

Black Mountain confirmed yesterday to shareholders that the company had formally withdrawn the referral to include “new data along with all potential appraisal wells and phases.” A new referral has been lodged and a public 10-day consultation process is expected to commence within the month of October.

Black Mountain was contacted for comment.